The difference between watching a play and watching a film is that a play is unexpectedable. Anything can happen in a play; for example, one could accidentally fall over or the audience could walk out on the play. Unlike a play, a film is a finished product; therefore, everything is finalized. I know when watching a film that if something happens or if something is focused on, then it was meant to be there. In a play, everything is important in my eyes, but I do not know exactly what the director wants me to see. Also, in a play, everything on the stage is being watched; for example, I can watch anyplace on the stage I want to. Unlike a film, I can only view what the director filmed for me to see. Also, everyone in the theatre has their own perspective on the play. Every seat has a different view.
A play is also much more unique than a film because there is a live performer, live audience, and a set stage and place and time. Each play through of the same play is a different because a live performer can do anything he or she wishes to do. Although there are many differences between a film and a play, there are many similar things. For example, people watch both a film and a play for entertainment purposes. People do not watch it to relieve hunger or to learn math homework. People go to watch it and have fun with their family and friends. Also, a very similar thing is that they both have a cast and a set of producers, directors, make up artists and many other things. They both have a producer and a director that have a certain perspective on a particular idea that they are trying to portray to the audience. Both a play and a film show what they decided to put in the production.
Although there are many similarities, the differences outweigh the similarities. Including the differences previously stated, another difference is that everything in a play is real. By this I mean that in a play, everything must be done as real as possible. Films are able to use special effects and CGI to alter the film. Unfortunately, this makes a play much harder to direct unlike a film because it can be altered and edited to make it better. Although this is subjective, I beleive that plays are choreographed and put together much more uniformly than film. Everyone has to work together to completely perform the play perfectly. I feel like a film relies more on the director to show the actors how to perform their roles. A play has a mixture if both the actors and directors working together to perfect the play.